Title: Repentance for the Forgiveness of Sins
Text: Luke 3:1-6
When we start a story, we often begin with the background. Today, Luke gives us the background of his story. He talks about the political and religious leaders at the time.
He starts big and then goes small. First, he mentions the Roman Emperor, Caesar. Then, he talks about Pontius Pilate, the governor of Judea. Next, he mentions leaders of smaller areas like Herod, Philip, and Lysanias. Finally, he tells us about Annas and Caiaphas, who were the high priests of the Jewish religion.
Why does Luke give us this background? It shows us who was ruling at that time. But more importantly, it prepares us to see that Jesus is the true king.
Luke also talks about John the Baptist. John was the son of Zechariah, and he preached about repentance. John told people they needed to repent to receive forgiveness for their sins. This shows us that repentance and forgiveness go together. You can’t have forgiveness without repentance.
John the Baptist didn’t just preach about forgiveness. He warned people, saying, “You brood of vipers,” to those who wanted forgiveness without truly repenting. This means that repentance is more important than just trying to be forgiven.
Luke also quotes from the Old Testament, specifically from Isaiah. John was like a voice crying in the wilderness, preparing the way for Jesus. John baptized people with water, but he told them that Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit. John felt unworthy even to untie Jesus’ sandals.
In those days, people thought that all they needed to do was receive forgiveness for their sins. They offered sacrifices and did many things to try to get forgiveness. But they missed something important: repentance. Some even came to be baptized without really repenting.
John’s message was simple: Repent, because Jesus, the true King, has come among us. Sadly, many people didn’t recognize Jesus when He came. They didn’t realize He was the Savior, even though He was right in front of them.
Luke reminds us of Isaiah’s prophecy, which says to make the way for the Lord smooth. The wilderness, in this case, can represent our hearts. Sometimes our hearts are like a wilderness—empty, dry, and unresponsive to God’s message. But Jesus has already come, and we need to prepare our hearts for Him.
Just like when a president visits and people prepare the way, we should prepare for Jesus. In ancient times, when a king came, people would fix the roads to make them smooth for his arrival. This shows that Jesus is not just a regular king—He is the greatest of all.
The problem isn’t that Jesus hasn’t come. He has already come. The question is whether we will accept Him. To do that, we need to repent. Without repentance, we may not recognize Jesus, or we might even reject Him.
John baptized people in the Jordan River. The Jordan River was important because it was the last barrier before the Israelites entered the Promised Land. Crossing it was a sign of faith. Baptism, like crossing the river, represents dying to sin and rising again in new life.
The real issue isn’t the Jordan River itself but the condition of our hearts. If our hearts aren’t ready, it’s like leaving the road rough for the King. Sometimes, we might want to delay the King’s arrival because we’re not ready.
Repentance means having the courage to face our sins and turn back to God. The Bible tells us that the kingdom of heaven is near. Jesus has already come, and God is right at the door, waiting for us. The question is: Are we ready?
Jesus is knocking on the door of our hearts. If we hear Him and open the door, He will come in and be with us. Even if we’re afraid or have sinned, He will accept us if we repent.
Let’s turn our hearts to Him, knowing that He has already won the victory for us.
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